Obituary of Donna Jean Utter

Donna Jean Utter passed away on August 22, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the age of 80. She was a resident of Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota. She was born October 17, 1943, in Menomonie, Wisconsin to Willard Christ Reinecke and June Elizabeth (Myers) Reinecke.

Donna earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Normandale College in Bloomington, Minnesota. She worked as a homemaker for over 20 years and as a drafter in fire protection until her retirement

She was a long-time member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Edina. Donna's faith in God and her savior Jesus Christ was always steadfast. This was evident by her love and kindness to others and seen through the many ways she volunteered over the years. We can rejoice in the fact that she is at home with her Lord now and forever.

In addition to being a loving and kind wife, mother, and grandmother, she was an accomplished painter, she enjoyed sewing and loved tending her beautiful flower gardens and growing tomatoes. When her children were still young the family traveled by recreational vehicle to many points in the U.S. For 20 years she traveled annually to England to visit her daughter Rachel who lived there at that time. Donna and Dan and other family members traveled in the Caribbean, in the Mediterranean, to Hawaii and to Alaska, took an extensive tour through Italy and traveled in western Europe.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother-in-law James Kalisch, Sr.

She was survived by her husband of 57 years Daniel Utter of Edina, by her children Rachel (Martin) Cornes of Bloomington, Minnesota, Jeanette (Bradley) Kittleson, of Richfield, Minnesota, Sarah Utter (Feng), of Bloomington, by her grandchildren Joshua (Jackline) Cornes, of Bloomington, Hannah Cornes (Sam) of Eden Prairie, Minnesota and Tabitha Cornes, of Bloomington, by her sister, Bette Kalisch, of Little Falls, Minnesota, and by her brother Michael Rengstorff (Kim) of Chaska, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 11 AM at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 5421 France Avenue South, Edina, Minnesota. Visitation will be held at 10 AM immediately prior to the service. Following the service, a luncheon will be served at the Church.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to:

MEAction to support people living with ME/CFS. To donate online go to meaction.net. To donate by mail, send donations to The Myalgic Encephomyelitis Action Network, 1217 Wilshire Boulevard, Unit 3639, Santa Monica, CA 90403; or to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Edina.